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Former RNC Chairman Ken Mehlman Comes Out Of The Closet

08/25/10-by Bridgette P. LaVictoire
Ken Mehlman has come out of the closet and begun to join the push for marriage equality. Who is Mehlman? The forty-three year old former head of the Republican National Committee between 2005 and 2007. In an interview with Marc Ambinder of the Atlantic, he made the announcement public. He stated “It’s taken me 43 years to get comfortable with this part of my life. Everybody has their own path to travel, their own journey, and for me, over the past few months, I’ve told my family, friends, former colleagues, and current colleagues, and they’ve been wonderful and supportive. The process has been something that’s made me a happier and better person. It’s something I wish I had done years ago.

Mehlman’s sexuality has been rumored for some time. In 2006, television host Bill Maher stated that Mehlman is gay. Mehlman responded with “I’m not gay, but those stories did a number on my dating life for six months.” Where once he pushed anti-gay initiatives as head of the RNC, now is participating in a fundraiser for American Foundation for Equal Rights (AFER). He is becoming an advocate for marriage equality.

Another former RNC Chairman, Ed Gillespie, called Mehlman’s coming out significant, but despite being friends, has maintained that he remains opposed to same-sex marriage.

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